Britain was on heightened alert Friday to safeguard the Jewish community after a deadly attack outside a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur left two people dead and three others critically injured.
Police fatally shot the attacker, who launched a car-ramming and stabbing assault Thursday morning outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Authorities later identified him as Jihad al-Shamie, a UK citizen of Syrian origin. Within hours, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced the arrests of three others — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s — on suspicion of “commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.”
The assailant, wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, was neutralised by armed officers just seven minutes after the first emergency call. Police later confirmed the vest was non-functional.
Security Measures Stepped Up
The attack, which occurred as Jewish communities worldwide marked Yom Kippur — the holiest day in the Jewish calendar — has been officially declared a terrorist incident.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood confirmed that security was immediately reinforced at synagogues and Jewish institutions nationwide.
“We are absolutely on high alert,” Mahmood told Sky News. “That is why there has been an increase in police resources, not just here in Manchester, but across the country. Our priority is making sure that our citizens are safe and can go about their lives, especially within the Jewish community and beyond.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short his trip to a European summit in Denmark to chair an emergency response meeting in London. He pledged to “do everything in my power” to protect Jewish citizens in the UK.
Victims Identified
Police on Friday identified the two men killed in the attack as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both members of the local Jewish community. The victims lived in Crumpsall, one of Manchester’s most prominent Jewish neighbourhoods, near the synagogue where the tragedy unfolded.
Three other victims remain in critical condition in hospital, GMP confirmed. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as a car ploughed into worshippers before a synagogue security guard was stabbed. Emergency services quickly cordoned off the area, while armed officers engaged the attacker.
Reactions and Criticism
The attack has drawn strong domestic and international reactions. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, accused UK authorities of failing to curb what he described as “rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement” in Britain.
The Chief Rabbi of Britain, Ephraim Mirvis, called the killings a “tragic result of Jew hatred.”
“This is the day we hoped we would never see, but deep down, we knew might come,” Mirvis said on X. “For too long we have witnessed an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, on campuses, and on social media.”
The incident has also intensified debates over pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Britain, which have grown since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war. Critics say the rallies have stoked antisemitism and deepened Jewish communities’ fears.
On Thursday evening, a “Global Movement for Gaza UK” protest went ahead in London despite heightened tensions, resulting in 40 arrests — including six for assaulting police officers. The Metropolitan Police have urged organisers to postpone another rally planned for Saturday in support of the banned activist group Palestine Action, but their request has so far been rejected.
Interior Minister Mahmood strongly condemned the decision to continue demonstrations.
“I was very disappointed to see those protests go ahead last night,” she said. “That behaviour is fundamentally un-British and dishonourable. At this moment, our Jewish communities deserve space to grieve in peace.”
Fear Within the Community
For many British Jews, the attack underscored long-standing concerns about rising antisemitism. Some worshippers, observing religious restrictions on Yom Kippur, only learned of the attack after leaving synagogues late Thursday.
“It’s something you know can happen,” said Alex, a 31-year-old company director who lives nearby and knew one of the victims. “Everyone in the community has experienced some sort of antisemitism in recent years. The conflict in Israel has definitely exacerbated the resentment we face here.”
With heightened police patrols at synagogues, schools, and community centres across the country, authorities say they are determined to prevent further violence. Still, Friday’s sombre atmosphere reflected both grief and anxiety, as Britain reckons with one of its deadliest antisemitic attacks in decades.